Cement drain tile casting machine



May 8,1962 D. c. BURDETTE 3,032,853

CEMENT DRAIN TILE CASTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 3, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 .1Arne/v5) May 8, 1962 D. c. BURDETTE 3,032,853

CEMENT DRAIN TILE CASTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 5, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2I02 /06 I04 //2 M0 .96

/Z JNVENTOR.

May 8, 1962 D. c. BURDETTE 3,032,853

CEMENT DRAIN TILE CASTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 3, 1959 4 $heets-Sheet 3INVENTOR.

yin/ w 3,032 853 CEMENT DRAIN TILE CASTING MACHINE Douglas C. Burdette,RD. 2, Box 328, Aberdeen, Md. Filed Aug. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 831,274 1Claim. (Cl. 25-100) The present invention relates to a casting machinegenerally, and in particular to a machine for casting cement drain tile.

Presently in use and previously proposed have been drain tile castingmachines each embodying a mold and a charging and forming device mountedfor movement into and out of the mold. Such machines as have beenproposed have not been wholly successful for many reasons. Castingmachines presently in use form the drain tile from an uncuredcementitious mixture. The tile, as cast, are in a semi-solid conditionand require transfer from the casting machine to a place or area ofcuring. Handling of the uncured cement tile entails a moderate amount ofskilled labor and considerable time. The uncured tile are subject tobreakage when handled and losses due to the breakage impair theefficiency of the casting machine employed. Additionally, it ispreferable to cure the formed drain tile in an area of temperature andhumidity within predetermined limits. The curing area is generally of ahigher temperature and of a greater degree of humidity than the area inwhich the machine operation takes place. For this reason, drain tileformed on casting machines of the type described, are generallytransported a relatively long distance after they are formed, adding tothe hazard of breakage.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cement tile castingmachine which is automatic in operation, one which requires a minimum ofskilled labor to operate, one having means for advancing the cast anduncured tile to an area of storage or place of curing, and

one which is highly effective in action.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cement tile castingmachine which may 'be adapted for casting cement tile or the like in allpractical sizes, one which lends itself to foolproof operation, onesimple in structure, one sturdily constructed, and one which iseconomically feasible.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will befully apparent from the following description when taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the casting machine according tothe present invention, a portion of the conveyor being shown brokenaway.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view.

FIG. 3 is a view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the portion of the conveyor omittedfrom FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a view taken on the line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 66 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a view taken on the line 77 of FIG. 6.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings, in which like numeralsindicate like parts throughout the several views, the casting machineaccording to the present invention is designated generally by thereference numeral 10 and it comprises a base 12 adapted for support upona supporting surface. A frame 14 rises from the base 12 and carriesintermediate the ends thereof a motor 16.

By means of pulleys 18 and 20, a belt 22, a clutch mechanism designatedgenerally by the reference numeral 24, a cross shaft 26, gearing 28, anda spindle 30, a vertically reciprocating charging device, designatedgenerally by the reference numeral 32, is connected to the frame 14 formovement into and out of a pair of mold half sections 34 and 36', whichare arranged in face-toatent face abutting relation (FIG. 2), and areconnected to the frame 14 for movement from the abutting position topositions away from each other, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2.

The means provided by the present invention for shifting the mold halfsections 34 and 36 from the abutting position to the away positionconsists in a fluid pressure cylinder assembly operatively connected toeach of the mold sections 34 and 36. One such assembly is shown in FIG.2 and designated generally by the reference numeral 38. The fluidpressure cylinder assembly is of con ventional construction and includesan actuating arm 40 having one end secured to a piston within thecylinder of the assembly 38. The piston is shown in dotted lines in FIG.2 within the cylinder 44 of the assembly 38 associated with the moldhalf section 36.

A travelling conveyor, designated generally by reference numeral 46,having an upper flight 48 and a lower flight 50, in disposed so that theupper flight 48 is adjacent to and below and is in registry with thelower ends of the mold half sections 34 and 36.

The upper flight 48 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. A horizontally disposedplate 52 is carried between the links 54 of the conveyor 46, and on theplate 52 is detachably secured a ring 56 within which is cast the endportion of a cement drain tile 58, the latter being shown in dottedlines in FIG. 6, and with a portion broken away.

Means are provided by the present invention operatively connected to theconveyor 46 for effecting stepby-step movement of the upper flight 48 inone direction. Specifically, this means embodies a ratchet wheel 60(FIGS. 4 and 5) mounted upon a drive shaft 62 journaled inbearing box64. The drive means includes a rocker arm 66 rockably supported on theshaft 62 and carrying on one end a pawl 68 engaged in the teeth of the,ratchet wheel 60. The other end of the rocker arm 66 is pivotallyconnected to the free end of an actuating arm 70 of a fluid pressureactuating means designated generally by the reference numeral 72 in FIG.4.

The fluid pressure actuating means includes a cylinder 74 havingslidably mounted therein a piston 76, shown in dotted lines. The piston76 is mounted upon the end of the actuating arm 70 remote from therocker arm 66.

A control valve 78 is carried on the frame 14 and has one end connectedby a conduit 80 to a pilot valve 82. Another conduit 81 connects theother end of the control valve 78 to a second pilot valve 84.

A rotatable cam 86 is carried by the frame 1.4 intermediate the ends ofand adjacent to the cross shaft 26 on which is a worm gear 27 drivablyengaging the cam 86.

A roller 88 engages the perimeter of the cam 86. The roller 88 iscarried on a lever 90 intermediate the ends of the latter. A toggle 91connects one end of the lever to the spindle 30, the other end of thelever being pivotally connected to the frame.

The spindle 30 is keyed to the one gear 29 of the gearing 28 for slidingmovement therethrough responsive to upward and downward movement of thefree end of the lever 90.

Rotation of the cam 86 effects the upward and downward movement of thespindle 30.

The upper end portion of the spindle 30 is shown in dotted lines in FIG.1 and is designated by the numeral 92. A collar 94, carried on thespindle portion 92 abuts against a trip element 96 of the pilot valve 82in the course of downward travel of the spindle 30. Upon upward travelof the spindle 30, a head 98 on the upper end of the portion 92 abutsagainst another trip element 100 of the other pilot valve 84. A mainconduit 102 is connected or has one end connected to a source of fluidunder pressure and is connected in communication with both of the pilotvalves 82 and 84. Through the pilot valves 82 and 84 and conduits 83, 85- the main conduit 1021 is also connected to the cylinders 44 of theassemblies 38 which shift the mold half sections 34 and 36 toward andaway from each other.

Another pilot valve 104 is positioned in axial alignment with the head98 of the spindle portion 92 and is actuated thereby when the spindleportion 92 reaches the uppermost limit of its movement. The pilot valve104 is operatively connected to a control valve 106 which is connectedby a conduit 108 to one end of the conveyor drive cylinder 74.

A compression spring 110, circumposed about a portion of the actuatingarm 70 of the fluid pressure actuating means 72, is operable to returnthe rocker arm 66 to the position shown in FIG. 4, upon movement of thehead 98 out of engagement with the trip lever or button 112 of the pilotvalve 104.

Each of the valves '78 and 106 are provided with an exhaust port 114 and1 16 respectively, for exhausting the respective cylinders 44- and thecylinder 74.

In operation, the charging device 32 is fed a charge of uncuredcementitious mixture from a tray or supply body 118. The charging device32 has means for spread ing and compacting the mixture against the innerWalls of the mold half sections 34 and 36, this means not being shown orfurther described as not forming a part of the present invention.

Upon downward movement of the spindle 30 into the mold half sections 34and 36 in response to rotation of the cam 86, the charging device 32reaches the bottom of the mold half sections 34 and 36 and deposits uponthe inner walls thereof a mixture hardening into a cement tile. As thespindle portion 92 moves downwardly, the collar 94 trips the tripelement 96 to actuate the pilot valve 82 and to admit air into thecylinders 44 so as to move the sections 34 and 36 together. This isaccomplished on the downward movement of the spindle 30 prior to castingof the cement tile. As the spindle 30 moves upwardly, the trip element100 is contacted by the head 98 on the portion 92 and the pilot valve 84is actuated to admit air to the other ends of the cylinders 44 and toexhaust therefrom the air previously admitted to the outer ends of thecylinders 44, This shifts the mold half sections 34 and 36 away fromeach other. Upon further movement upwardly of the head 98, the button112 is depressed to actuate the pilot valve 104 to admit air through thecontrol valve 106 to the conduit 108 and then to the one end of thecylinder 74 of the fluid pressure cylinder means 72 adjacent the rockerarm 66 and effect the rocking movement of the rocker arm 66 and throughthe pawl 68, rotary movement of the ratchet wheel 60 in acounter-clockwise direction, which serves to move the upper flight 48 ofthe conveyor 46 a distance sufiicient to shift the one plate 52 out ofregistry with the mold sections and to shift the next plate 52 intoregistry with the mold sections, carrying along with the first plate theformed tile 58.

The reciprocating movement of the charging device 32 continues with eachrotation of the cam 36 and each of the pilot valves 82, .34, and 104 areoperated in sequence to repeat the operation of bringing into registrywith the mold half sections one of the plates 52, closing of the moldhalf sections to the abutting position, opening of the mold halfsections, and step-by-step movement of the conveyor flight 48 to shiftthe formed cylinders out of the casting machine and, if the conveyor 46is of a sufficient length, to an area for curing.

In place of the aforesaid fluid control means operatively connecting theconveyor and the mold half sections to the charging device, electricalmeans may be employed, if desired.

Further, numerous changes and modifications may be made within the scopeof the invention as set forth in the appended claim, and the machine ofthe present invention may be employed with other castings machines inwhich there are mold sections movable toward and away from each other ina conveyor which is moved in sequence with respect to movement of suchmold sections.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, whatis claimed is:

A cement cylindrical drain tile casting machine assembly comprising aframe, a fixed casting station on said frame, said casting stationincluding a molding mechanism fixed at said station and comprising avertically disposed mold having relatively horizontally movablecylindrical half sections, said mold being open at the top and bottom,means at the station for horizontally moving the sections of the moldtoward and away from each other to open and close the mold, a verticallyreciprocating charging device positioned on said frame for moverrientinto and out of said mold when the latter is closed, said chargingdevice cooperating with said mold to .cast a cylindrical article againstthe walls of the mold, endless conveyor means movable past said stationrelative to said mold, disposed below said mold in position to close theopen bottom of the mold and support the article cast therein during andafter the casting operation, means for imparting a step by step movementto said conveyor, means for vertically reciprocating said chargingdevice, and means controlled by the movement of said charging device fortiming the operation of the means for moving the mold sections towardand away from each other and the means for imparting a stepwise movementto the conveyor to cause, upon movement of said charging device in thedirection out of the mold, movement of said mold sections away from eachother and movement of the conveyor a step to remove the cast articlefrom between the mold sections and to cause, upon movement 'of saidcharging device 'in a direction toward the mold, movement of the moldsections toward each other to close the mold while said conveyor remainsstationary.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,281,298 Craigen Oct. 15, 1918 1,301,048 Frey Apr. 15, 1919 1,835,914Stockdale Dec. 8, 1931 2,415,462 Cherry et a1 Feb. 11, 1947 2,492,415Coates et al. Dec. 27, 1949 2,496,016 Nelson Jan. 31, 1950 2,779,080Chidester Jan. 29, 1957 2,835,016 Dixon May 20, 1958 a "Wm

